The Importance of Exercise in Alzheimer’s Disease
Chapter from the book:
Çiçek,
H.
(ed.)
2023.
Health Science Research: Basic Medicine II.
Synopsis
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impairs memory and cognitive reasoning. AD is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly population and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the elderly. It is predicted that AD will become a bigger health problem with the increase in the number of patients in the coming years. Current pharmacological treatments for AD target the late stages of the disease. It is thought that exercise can be used as a treatment option in the early stages of AD. Significant results were obtained with exercise in AD patients, regardless of duration and severity, regarding attention and memory functions. As a result, AD patients and their relatives should be directed to the relevant institutions, they should be supported by training in coping with this disease and they should be informed about the treatment options. In addition to pharmacotherapy, the prevention of the disease and especially in early stage AD patients, the implementation of appropriate exercise programs for the patients should be expanded.